Thursday, July 29, 2010

I've been so behind. Perhaps it's summer....perhaps it's that I now have a teenager and a pre-teen living in my house...of which I am FINALLY use to. Every day is a different, challenging day, but I'm no longer having crying, stressful fits. I'm learning to let go of the things I can't control.

To say our summer has been busy is an understatement. We've been doing so much it's hard to remember exactly what day of what month it is!

For the 4th of July we went with one of my BFF's to her parents house in DC for the holiday. It was fantastic. I felt like I was with my family and I honestly, with all my heart, adore my BFF and her family. Crystal and I met online a couple of years ago or so but didn't really get to know each other until probably last year. As she said the other day "you're my thick". And she means it. And I have to say, there is only one other person in this entire world who knows me as well as Crystal does. She's been my rock, my best friend and someone I adore with all of my heart. She is my "thick".

So here we are with her family for the holiday weekend.

Crystal is in the middle with her dad and mom to her right and her daughter and her sister to her left.

Of course LW and I are here with Kassidy. I think I'm trying to pull off a sexy pose here!

Crystal and her daughter Chaya and her husband Darren.

Crystal with her dad and husband.

Me and Crystal....aw

Of course no trip is complete to Washington without going to DC!

Also this summer we had Lauren's graduation party in Ohio. We picked a super hot day to have an outdoor party, but it was fun and the kids all seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Here is LW with his two sisters, his mother and Lauren.

Like father like daughter!

The two most beautiful step daughters a girl could ask for.

Thus far it's been a great summer.

Come back soon and I'll have pictures posted from my last adventure! And let me tell you....it's worth diving in to!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

It seems these days I can't keep up with blogging or even reading blogs. I'm at a busy spot at work, and with two kids at home, the last thing I want to do when I get home is sit in front of a computer all evening.

The kids are great.

Lauren got a job and started this week. She'll be working at the local mall in the Abercrombie and Fitch store. I can't wait to use her discount! She's on track to start college at the end of September. So all in all, Lauren is doing great living back in Ohio.

Kassidy has been so fun this summer. We've kept her busy with a week at Grandma's and this week she is at an over night camp. From what we can tell from the camp's website, Kassidy is having a blast and making new friends. We've been able to see pictures of her. Ah the technology!

Wedding planning is **trying** to come along. We thought we had a reception place nailed down, but then I happened upon two other locations that will need less work to decorate and cater than the original place, so we're setting up meetings to over over everything with the other locations. We have an email into the cake lady, a date set up to speak with the photographer, a DJ already booked and an appointment with the travel agent to discuss the honeymoon. So plans are progressing.

Work is insane. I'm the test lead for 9 people, and every last one of them are keeping me on my toes. I've worked late evenings, I've worked weekends, I've worked from home. I'm spent. But it's been good for me to be in this leadership role. And I'm blessed to have a job.

Yesterday marked 6 months since I've had my hysterectomy. I actually took some time to reflect on the changes that have occured. The bad: I'm ubber sensitive, I'm hot all of the time, I'm irratible a little more than normal, I have crazy headaches but the good: I'm PAIN FREE and it feels terrific. I'm doing things that may have held me back 6 months ago. I have more energy than before. I feel terrific! I still get a little down when I think about not having my own children, but having LW's girls home, has made me realize that I AM a mother. Even Lauren told me Sunday that I make a better mother than most Mom's she knows. She always reminds me that even though she's not mine, that she loves me and that I am still her mom. And every now and then when she calls me Momma D or calls me her parent, I get chills. It feels good to know that a Mother doesn't have to give birth to her children to know that she's a mother. And gosh darn it, I'm a mother and I'm good at it. And every day I will remind those girls how much they mean to me. And every day I will do what's best for them. And every single day they will know I am here for them for as long as humanly possible, for I am THEIR mother.

So life is good. Just busy!

Google Wednesday will be back I promise!

And the next time I post, I hope to post pictures from Lauren's graduation party we had in Ohio for her and our 4th of July pictures from our trip to D.C.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

So last week got away from me, therefore there was no Google Wednesday! So sorry to disappoint.

I didn't forget as much as I just got busy and haven't had the time these days. I've been busy balancing my new home life and working on a very large project at work.

But have no fear....I'm back this week!

This week I decided to Google.....

Lately I've been focusing on wedding cake designs. Since we're getting married in the month of June I figured we needed to get started on planning and booking places as the summer tends to fill up fast. I have an idea on the kind of cake I would like: four tier, round, purple, lime green, hot pink and bright orange ribbon at the base of each tier, and possibly some kind of design on the cake. I also would like a silver "W" for the top of the cake. The cake will sit on a bright orange table cloth with nothing else. Very basic. Clean.

At the end of July we actually meet with a baker to start taste testing our cake. I can't wait. I love that part of wedding planning! Nothing better than yummie cake.

I'm not sure what it is about wedding cake, but I could care less what kind of food we serve just so long as the wedding cake tastes amazing! There's something so deliriously tasty about wedding cake.

Monday, July 5, 2010

It's been awhile since I last posted some of the cards I have made. I've been successful thus far this year hand making all of my cards for friends and family for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Most often too, I am getting the cards out on time! Now that takes planning!